Objective To establish fingerprint spectra for Bailangen (Isatidis Radix) slices and methods for determining representative component content. Developing a quality prediction system through mathematical modeling to investigate the patterns of quality changes in Isatidis Radix during different fresh processing methods. Method Collecting fresh Isatidis Radix and preparing 15 batches of Isatidis Radix slices by controlling drying methods, drying temperature, drying time, and water treatment duration. HPLC was used to establish the fingerprint and calibrate the total peaks. Combining hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) to evaluate the quality of 15 batches of Isatidis Radix, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-entropy weighting method was used to determine the weights of each indicator, and a comprehensive score was calculated. Results HPLC fingerprints were established for 15 batches of Isatidis Radix, with a similarity of 0.891 to 0.997 between each group. Eleven common peaks were calibrated, and four components were identified: uridine, guanosine, (R,S)-goitrin, and adenosine. HCA analysis divided the samples into two clusters based on differences in the drying process; PCA extracted three principal components, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 83.973%; OPLS-DA analysis showed that (R,S)-goitrin and guanosine may be important markers for distinguishing differences in the quality of Chinese herbal medicine slices; the comprehensive score of the entropy weight method showed that the 60 ℃ drying for 5 h process had the highest score. Conclusion Fingerprinting combined with chemical pattern recognition can distinguish Isatidis Radix slices prepared using different fresh processing methods, screen for key factors affecting the quality of Isatidis Radix slices, and provide a reference for quality control and evaluation of freshly processed fresh Isatidis Radix slices.

Isatidis Radix  /  fresh processing  /  uridine  /  guanosine  /  (R,S)-goitrin  /  adenosine  /  chemometrics  /  quality evaluation